Combined smoothing



(No Model.)

A. P. ZIMMERLING.

COMBINED SMOOTHING, FLUTING, AND POLISHING IRON. No. 269,368. Patented D90. 19, 1882.

4 v Y W w'inesses: I

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

AUGUST F. ZIMMERLING, OF MlLWAUKEE, VVISGONSIN.

COMBINED SMOOTHING, FLUTING, AND POLlSHlNG IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,368, dated December 19, 1882.

Application filed April 8, 1882. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST F. ZIMMER- LING, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Smoothing, Fluting, and Polishing Iron; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to laundry-irons; and it consists in a combined article for smoothing,

fluting, and polishing, together with a device for heating the same, all as more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my entire device. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the lower part of the heating device, and Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

My present invention is, in part, an improvement on that patented to me on the 9th day ofA-ugust, 1881, and numbered 245,336, and, like that device, has a four-faced hollow iron, A, two of the faces, a a, being perfectly flat and designed for ordinary smoothing, while the face a is intended for fluting, and the face a for polishing linen. In this present case, however, instead of corrugatin g the en tire face a, as in the patent referred to, I have simply made a corrugated roller, a which is j ournaled in lugs a a and extends transversely across the face a, while the polishing-surface a", instead of being made, as formerly, with a rounded heel simply, is here shown with its entire surface curved, so that it may be used as a polisher at any point, instead of only at its rear edge, as in the patent named. These points of difference are of minor importance; but I have found by actual experiment that they possessadvantagesover theconstruction shown in my said patent. The handle and locking device are formed substantially as in my said patent, and therefore do not call for an extended description here. The heating device, however, is very different in its construction and mode of operation from that shown in my said patent, and I not only attach it in a somewhatdifferent manner, as hereinafterdescribed, but I have also changed the position of the airholes A, as shown, so as to insure freer combustion Within the iron, by perforating the iron near its point as well as at the rear, instead of at the rear only, as in my said patent.

B is the reservoir, which is filled from the end instead of the upper surface, the opening being covered and protected by the screwcap B.

O (1" (J constitute the system of feed-tubes, the first being designated the branch, the second the straight tube, and the third the 'bent tube. D is the regulatin g-tube, and E the gas'escape tube. F F is the blow-pipe. There are fourvalves in my present device-namely, the feed-valve c in the tube 0, the regulatingvalve 61 in the tube D, the gas-valve e at the end of the tube E, and the setting-valve f in the blow-pipe. Wherever anyof the said tubes unite, or where they receive branches, I prefer to em ploy screw-threaded couplings, as shown, though it is obvious that my system of tubes could be cast solidly, if desired, without departing from my invention, although at a greater expense, and with no increased efficiency, but rather less, as I am now enabled to take my device apart should any one of the numerous tubes or valves get out of order.

The reservoir being filled with the preferred fluid-such as alcohol, naphtha, or other gaseous liqnidthe feed-valve c is screwed upward, which opens the passage from G to G and the fluid descends through the branch 0 to the straight tube 0, and thence through the bent tube into the base of the regulating-tube D, and thence into the blow-pipe F F, and a light being applied to the burner or outer end of the part F the fluid takes fire. In a very few seconds the bent part of the tube 0 becomes heated from. the flame, and then all the fluid that reaches'this pointbecomes converted into dry gas, in whicht'orm it passes into the blow-pipe,just as first the fluid did, to support the flame. The heating device is then adjusted within the iron, and in an exceedingly short time the iron is heated sufficiently for the service required. As the tendency of the flame is principally forward and upward, the point and uppermost surface of the iron is always kcpt hot, requiring only an occasional reversing of the smoothing-surface, in ordinary ironing, whenever the operatingsurface shall have become too cool, and this reversal is to be accomplished by means of the spring-catch E, here shown, and described at length in my patent already named, whereby, also, the iron may at any time be instantly set so that any face desired may be in proper position for use, and meanwhile the face above and the point and sides of the iron will be getting heated in turn.

The blow-pipe consists, as indicated, of two parts, F and F. The former communicates directly with the regulating-tube D, through which it receives its supply of gas, (produced, as stated, from the fluid in the bent tube 0 by the heat of the flame,) and it is screw-threaded on its outer exterior end to receive the part F, which has two air-holes, f, near the end farthest from the burner. If very great heat is desired the part F may be screwed forward, so as to more fully open these air-holes f and increase the draft, and hence the combustion, whereas if less heat is required the part F may be screwed backward, thereby partially closing the air-passagesf. The settingvalvej controls the quantity of gas which passes to the burner; but this valve requires but little change in position, as this result can be obtained under all ordinary circumstances by screwing the regulating-valve d up or down, asrequired. It will be understood that the four valves 0, cl, 6, andf are identical in construction, (except that they differ in length,) each valve being screw-threaded just below its head, and turning in interior screw-threaded bearings (properly packed, if required) at the upper or closed end of the tube, while each valve is pointed or tapered off at its other end to fit into a correspondingly-tapered socket, so that by turning the head of the valve slightly the said valve may be screwed up or down, as required, and the space between the tapering point of the valve and its tapering seat may be increased or diminished (even to the entire closing of the passage) at will, all as clearly indicated by the sectional view, Fig. 3.

The function of the gas-escape tube E and gas-valve cremains to be described. The fluid in the bent tube 0 becoming heated by the flame at the end of the blow-pipe expands into gas, as already described, and as this gas is formed faster than it can be consumed the balance naturally seeks an exit. The regulatingtube D being closed atits upper end, the only way of escape is back through the bent tube 0 and thence directly up the straight tube 0. Now, as fluid is all the time flowing from the reservoir B through the branch 0 into the straight tube 0, the said branch 0 is always full, and the gas cannot therefore pass into said branch, and soit continues past the coupling-point 0 straight up to the top of the tube 0 and out into tube E, and thence into the upper part of the reservoir B, above the fluid, the tube E being on a horizontal line below the screw-seat of the valves 0 and c, and therefore affording a free passage for the gas from the tube 0 to the reservoir, which, however, can at any time be closed, if desired, by screwing down the gas-valveeinto its socket. The effect of this heated gas on top of the fluid in the reservoir B is not only to exert a slight pressure, which insures a constant flow of said fluid out through the branch 0 and the other feed-tubes, but, also, it prevents a vacuum being formed in the reservoir, and compels the fluid and gas to balance each other, as it were, the system of tubes being thus always tilled with fluid and gas while the iron is in operation.

The heater is secured in place on the iron by means of its slotted plate G, which receives the flanged bolt 9 and its nut g, and also the pin 9 the said bolt and pin projecting from the rear shank of the handle of the iron, and when in place the nut 9 can .be screwed tight, while the pin prevents any swing to the lower part of the heater, thus forming a much more secure and effective lock than the plate with simple key-hole slots, which I showed in my patented device hereinbcfore named.

Although I have referred to my invention as an improvement in laundry-irons, I wish it understood that it is equally well adapted for tailoring and dress-making, or any other business requiring the smoothing, polishing, or fluting of fabrics.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a heater for combined laundry-irons, the combination of the reservoir B and system of feed-tubes G 0 G the feed-valve c, and the blow-pipe F F and regulating-valves, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a heater for combined laundry-irons, the combination of the fluid-reservoir B and its branch 0 with the blow-pipe F F, bent tube 0 straight tube 0, and gas-escapetube E, whereby the unconsumed gas that is formed in the bent tube 0 mayhave passage-way into the reservoir and prevent a vacuum being formed therein above the fluid, as set forth.

3. In a heater for combined laundry-irons, the combination of the reservoir B, branch 0, straight tube 0, feed-valve c, bent tube C regulating-tube D, regulating-valve d, and blow-pipe F F, as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a heater for combined laundry-irons, the combination of the reservoir B, feed-tubes O 0 G regulating-tube D, gas-escape tube E, blow-pipe F F, and valves 0 d cf, as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with the rear shank of the handle of a hollow reversible laundryiron provided with the flanged bolt 9 and pin 9 a heating device provided with the plate G, slotted as described, whereby it may pass over the flanged bolt, and a nut g, to tighten the plate to place, while the pin 9 prevents In testimony that I claim the foregoing I any lateral movement or swing to the lower have hereunto set my hand on this 21st day part of the heater, as set forth. of March, 1882, in the presence of two wit- 6. In a heater for combined laundry-irons, nesses.

5 the blow-pipe described, consisting of the part F, having setting-valve and screw-threaded AUGUST F. ZIMMERLING.

on its outer end, in combination with part F, having interior screwthreads at its rear to fit Witnesses: over the part F, and air-holes nexttoits thread- STANLEY S. STOUT,

10 ed portion and farthest from its burner, as and HAROLD G. UNDERWooD.

for the purpose set forth. 

